Cebu Pacific used sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on flight 5J 5055 from Narita to Manila, making it the first Philippine carrier to employ SAF on a commercial flight from Japan.
The SAF flight was operated utilising an Airbus 321neo with 40% blended SAF developed by Neste Corporation and supplied by Itochu Corporation. This combination resulted in a 44% reduction in carbon emissions per passenger, a new low for CEB’s SAF-powered flights.
According to Alexander Lao, President and Chief Commercial Officer of Cebu Pacific, as the airline waits for sufficient SAF supply to meet the demand of the entire aviation industry, the inaugural Narita to Manila SAF flight represents Cebu Pacific’s ongoing efforts to make air travel more sustainable. Lao also mentioned that various decarbonisation measures have been implemented. This includes investing in fuel-efficient NEOs, optimising flight schedules, and using fuel efficiency best practices to reduce fuel usage.
All of these activities demonstrate Cebu Pacific’s concrete commitment to and support for the aviation industry’s objective of flying net-zero by 2050.
Itochu, which serves as SAF’s branded distributor in Japan, praised the collaboration. The company looks forward to working with Cebu Pacific to achieve sustainable aviation. This collaboration highlights the growing demand for SAF in the Asia-Pacific area, which Itochu intends to address, according to Atsushi Onishi, Senior Officer of Itochu’s Energy Division.
Passengers aboard the maiden flight took part in the festivities, receiving commemorative tokens and participating in on-board games. Narita International Airport also enthusiastically supported the idea.
Fruits of a Strategic Partnership with Neste
Prior to the commercial flight, CEB formed a strategic alliance with Neste to work at securing a long-term supply of SAF across the Asia-Pacific region. This program is in keeping with the airline’s sustainability goal of gradually integrating SAF into its operations. The goal is to lower carbon emissions and encouraging environmental awareness.
CEB performed its inaugural passenger flight powered by SAF from Singapore to Manila in September 2022, making it the first low-cost carrier in Southeast Asia to do so. By 2030, the airline hopes to have integrated blended SAF over its entire commercial network.
